"Cato, Cato!" Someone was shaking my arm. I groggily opened my eyes and saw Juna staring at me eagerly with her chestnut eyes. "We're here! We're in the Capitol!" She smiled and looked out the window.
"Wha? Oh- yeah! It's..." I yawned. "It's great isn't it?" I asked and she nodded, her hair pulled from their two braids.
I got up from the bed and yawned again.
"Yeah, you can look at the Capitol. I'm gonna talk to Father." I muttered and she nodded.
I stepped into the dining car and sat down next to Enobaria. She gave me a nod and I looked at Father.
"Good morning." I said and they replied they replied the same.
"Did you sleep well?" Father asked and I nodded.
"Whom were you talking about? Yesterday." I asked and Father grimaced. Enobaria's gaze flickered down but she remained still.
"Cato, what you're going through... Your mother, Junallia also went through when she returned from the Games. Have I ever told you our story?" I nodded but a smaller voice said,
"You haven't told me." Juna flounced into the room and sat on Father's lap. "Tell me about Mama." She pleaded and the sad look in his eyes grew.
"Well, princess, I was born and raised in the Capitol, but my family was much different from the ones you see in the Capitol. You see, we were part of the President's Chamber. A very very high position. That's why we can live in the Capitol and District 2." Juna frowned.
"When does Mama come in?" She asked and Father smiled. I took an apple and roll from the basket.
Better eat lightly, the feast will stretch from lunch to dinner.
"Well, when I turned 19, President Snow stationed me in District 2 to observe and learn what I would be taking over from your grandfather. At the time, your mother was a poor blacksmith's daughter. The chances of us ever meeting were so slim. Of course, like any other child in the Capitol, your Mama trained at the Academy."
"What about Aunt Enobaria?" Juna asked, and Father nodded.
"Enobaria is seven years younger than your Mama. She would have just started training when your Mama was fourteen. That was the year of the 52nd Hunger Games, and eager to honor her family, your Mama broke all of the rules and volunteered." Juna gasped and Enobaria chuckled.
"Scared the hell out of our father and mother." Father gave her a sharp look but said nothing on the matter.
"Everyone expected her to die, but she won. I was one of her main sponsors. When she came home victorious, I met her at the Victory Feast. Juna, your mother nearly despised me. She was angry from the Games, but I chased her for years and years until we had Cato and got married. But Junallia was unpredictable. After six or seven years out of the Games, your Mama began hearing a voice in her head." Enobaria nodded and smiled a sad grin.
"Even then she was beautiful. Did you know Junallia was terrified to have a second child? Took Domitius ten years to convince her to have another one." She said and Father smiled. I took another roll and began chewing on it.
"The voice would tell her to do things and she would listen. Most of the time she was fine, but other times, your Mama would sing the saddest songs and look at one thing for hours and hours, not moving, not talking. She always loved Cato, though. She would begin to look at something, but Cato would walk into the kitchen for a cookie or juice and she would snap out of it immediatley. Anything to do with Cato was her lifeline. Enobaria always came over for dinner and then she volunteered as tribute for the 62nd Hunger Games. That was only a few years ago." Juna smiled.
"Was Mama beautiful?" Enobaria scoffed.
"Beautiful? Junallia was positively glowing." She said and Father smirked. Juna asked for details.
"Well, she had tan skin. Like Enobaria's, and she had dark brown eyes and dark blonde hair. She took after her father and Enobaria looks more like their mother. I thought Junallia was the most beautiful woman in the world. You have her eyes and hair." Father smiled and I nodded. Juna smiled and took a roll from the basket.
"I want to go to the President's Ball with Cato." She smiled and I cleared my throat.
"Yes, Juna will be my date for the night." I agreed with her and father nodded.
"Juna, if you can behave yourself, you may escort Cato. One wrong move and we're going home. Am I clear?" Juna nodded and eagerly hugged Father.
"Thank you!" She exclaimed and beamed at Enobaria and me. I nodded and Hyelle stepped in.
"Well, we have arrived. Cato and Enobaria, Willose has your clothes picked out. Juna and Mr. Arckenson, Willose will send someone with your clothes as well." She patted my back and I nodded. Enobaria stood,
"Well, I think Cato and I should get dressed." She sighed and I followed her out the door. We walked to where Willose kept all of her designs and saw her rummaging through a box of silk scarves.
"Well, Hyelle says we ah on a tight schedule. Cato, I heald about yole sistel and I found a matching dless fole hel. Enobalia, I have a nice gold dless fole you." She held a long shimmering gown out and Enobaria rolled her eyes and went to change.
I was handed a dark blue leather jacket and pants. The jacket seemed to shine in the light and it had some type of jewel for buttons.
"Ball stalts in twenty minutes. Cato, whell is yole sistel? Junallia?" Her thick accent and long tongue were so annoying.
She is.
I felt shiver run down my back as my voice returned.
Cato, let's not do this, hm? You should get used to me being here because seeing as how you are, I'm going to be here for a very long time.
I shakily let out a sigh and took the outfit. Willose handed me a dress as well.
"Fole Junallia." She smiled and pushed her purple hair back. I nodded. The dress was the same color as my jacket and had short sleeves that looked like they were stitched from individual blue butterfly wings. There was a gold belt at the stomach and a large lace skirt billowed out from under it. The lace seemed to shine on it's own without light and it had a strange shimmering to it.
"Eet is ze current style for young children Junallia's age, but eet is still so obscure, only ze most famous or wealthiest leettle girls can wear lace skirts like zat." Geal nodded and pointed at the lace. "Junallia will be ze most beautiful princess there tonight. Being the sister, daughter, and neice of past Victors has it's perks, ya? Ze President's granddaughter, Lucilla, she wears ze same style dress tonight." He smiled and walked away. I looked at the dress. It seemed like a pretty scrap of lace to me.
Well, it is.
Ignoring the voice, I walked around and found Juna sitting with Father next to a window.
"I have your dress. It matches my jacket." I said and she gently touched the deep blue lace.
"It's so pretty." She softly said and Enobaria appeared around the corner.
"Yeah, much prettier than what I have to wear." She muttered. Enobaria was in a long gold dress that was clasped with two white claws on each shoulder. Juna smiled.
"You look beautiful." she said and took Enobaria's hand. "Help me put my dress on!" She exclaimed and they exited the car.
"Will you be going to the ball, Father?" He shook his head,
"I might, but I think President Snow needs me in a meeting." He said and I nodded.
"Why are you moving to the Capitol so suddenly?" I asked and Father's lips tightened.
"I have been asked to work on my weapons developement there. President Snow says it's to further tighten the security in the Capitol. Many pointless rumors are arising. Do not worry yourself with these trivial matters." He smiled but I could tell something was wrong. Before I could ask him any further, Juna appeared with Enobaria.
"Look Daddy!" She exclaimed, twirling. I was amazed at how well the deep colors looked on someone her age.
"My little princess looks beautiful!" Father laughed, picking her up.
"No! put me down!" Juna shouted, and landed on her little gold shoes. "Do you like my shoes? Aunt Enobaria calls them kitten heels!" She laughed and took my hand. "When do we leave?"
"You will be leaving in two minutes, so better get into the cars." Hyelle called through the door. Enobaria and I took Juna's hands and we steadily walked out the train and into a car.
Control control control.
The voice sang as we passed by many Capitolites in their ostentatious outfits. Finally, the car stopped and the door was opened to flashing bulbs and bright signs.
"Cato, Cato look over here!"
"Victor Cato!"
"Miss!"
"Enobaria!"
"Who is the lovely lady next to you?!" Enobaria got out first then I did. I held my hand out to Juna and she placed her little gloved hand in mine. We waved and smiled at for the cameras, well, Juna did. Enobaria and I mostly glared and tried not to kill anyone.
Walking on, Hyelle caught us and reminded me to mind my manners. She complemented Juna's gloves and whispered something to Enobaria who in turn growled something back.
Why so secretive? What are they keeping from you?
I don't care.
"Rosie!" A little voice squealed at Juna.
"Winny!" Juna screamed and ran towards the President's granddaughter. Cameras clicked fevershly and many Capitolites smiled as the two little girls in matching dresses embraced. Holding hands, Juna brought Lucilla over. Lucilla had light brown hair and green eyes. She was a bit shorter than Juna.
"Cato, this is Lucilla Winnis Snow! Winny, this is my older brother, Cato." Lucilla waved and I smiled.
"Hi! I'm Lucilla but Rosie calls me Winny."
"I'm Cato and Juna calls me Cato." I joked dryly and Lucilla nodded, dragging Juna off to have fun.
She is your sister's best friend. Go say hello to someone, have a drink.
I milled around and tried to answer the crazy peoples' questions without a smart retort. They were all so dumb and it irked me. I mostly glared at the ground until a Peacekeeper came and tapped my shoulder.
"Mr. Arckenson, President Snow wishes to see you in his office." I shook my head.
"My father is already in the meeting."
"No. He wants you, Victor Cato." I raised my eyebrows and nodded, grabbing two clears shots from a passing waiter. I drank them and followed the Peacekeeper up several flights of stairs.
A pair of doors were opened and six men sat at a conference table. Father was fuming on President Snow's right side and Seneca Crane looked at me with keen interest. The three other men held me with a dull interest.
Your father looks very tense. Something bad is going on.
"Mr. Arckenson, please sit." Snow motioned to the seat at the very end of the table facing him. I slowly seated myself and the President smiled. "You are a very strong, young man, Cato. Newly crowned and everything. I believe you show much potential as a weapons designer like your father."
"Thank you, sir." My voice was hollow.
"Cato, I believe you have too much competition to bloom as a true Mentor. District 2 has many Victors, your aunt being one. So I have decided to send you somewhere else to Mentor. What say you about District 12? I have heard you and Haymitch Abernethy are on amiable terms." I could not believe what he was saying.
He wants to send you to Mentor in District 12. What a strange turn of events!
"I... I-"
"Unless you wish for your schedule to become more cramped in the Capitol." Snow smiled and I felt dread at the pit of my stomach.
So it's either go to District 12 or continue being the Capitol's bedtime toy?
"District 12 is a noble and proud district. I would be honored to serve my country there."
"Good. Domitius, I will see to it that your son is prepared. You may return to the party now, Cato." I stood and gave a small bow.
Control your anger. It's affecting me. Control it, Cato. Don't hurt anyone.
A peacekeeper tapped my shoulder.
"Are you alri-" His sentence was cut short by me snapping his neck. I growled and almost punched a wall but restrained myself.
The amount of anger I felt was incomparable.
You need to sit own and calm yourself.
"Agh!" I yelled, smashing a vase. I snapped two other Peacekeepers' neck and returned to the party very very angry. Enobaria took one look at me and nodded.
"I think it's time we got back to the train." She said and went to find Juna. I glared at enough people to get a clear path for me to walk through.
Father was in the car when I stepped in with Juna and Enobaria.
"You will be departing in tomorrow morning." He said, and Juna's head whipped around.
"You're going somewhere? Can I go with you?" She asked and Father shook his head.
"Junallia Rose," Her smile fell. Junallia Rose meant she was in trouble. "Cato will be gone for quite a while. It may be months before you can see him again." Juna nodded and seated herself onto my lap.
"I'll miss you." She said and I nodded, looking out the window.
"I'll miss you too." I hugged her and Juna kissed my cheek.
"How long will you be gone?"
"I have no idea."
"Well... I hope you're not gone for very long! I might get bored without you." Juna smiled and I felt myself smile as well.
"Yes, heaven forbid you get bored."